After forty years of effort, the Taiwan area of the R.O.C has become known around the world as being wealthy and prosperous. After the economic rise, increased education, and the rise of the middle-class, people have come to expect more from government, society, and the environment.
The attitude of people towards the forest is one of the changes that have taken place. Whereas before we looked to the forests in order to earn foreign currency, our current request is for a better environment.
We have interviewed several people from the various sides and asked their opinions on the subject of forests.
Hu Ta-wei, Chairman of the Department of Forestry at Chinese Culture University
The forestry industry is a conscientious undertaking. The influences of felling trees or reforestation are only apparent after a long period of time.
If we were to plant a Formosa red cypress we wouldn't be able to enjoy it during our generation. In other words we'd be planting it for the next generation. Double-leaved pines were planted in great numbers in the past to meet the domestic need for paper pulp. Now these trees are of little value since paper pulp can be imported from other nations at extremely low prices.
Because the effect of felling trees or reforestation can't be seen immediately, people don't seem to concern themselves with forests. It's not easy for them to see forestry management from a long-term point of view. This phenomenon is also prevalent domestically.
In the past, people thought that forests were a free natural resource. "If you don't chop the trees down, then it's a waste of a God-given gift." This way of thinking has faded with the passing of time. Of course, no one is saying that you can't chop down a tree but we should ask ourselves "What losses will occur if the tree is not chopped?" as well as, "What losses will occur if the tree is chopped?" before we go ahead with any decisions.
Kuo-mu Chiao, professor in the Department of Forestry at National Taiwan University
Control of the nation's land today falls in the hands of neither the President nor the Executive Yuan but rather in those of the Taiwan Forestry Bureau.
We entrust 52 percent of the nation's land resources to their management, but we've never given them enough authority to carry out their work smoothly.
The Taiwan Forestry Bureau has always been a third-rate unit under the Taiwan provincial government. All of the property of the forestry industry is located up on the mountains. Actually people who manage this property are mostly skilled workers of the workstations. Their incomes are low and their authority is limited. They've got lots of matters to take care of but they don't have any hope of being promoted. They're always going to be workers.
Raising the true qualities of the workers and increasing their authority is a road we must take.
Our population is growing more and more, and so is the number of those who want to develop the forests and mountains. In order to prevent illegal felling, opening up of land, and illegal construction, workers at the Taiwan Forestry Bureau need to play the roles of both tax collector and traffic policeman.
Valiant Tsing Liu, research fellow of the Division of Watershed Management at the Taiwan Forestry Research Institute
In the past the materials of our society were not abundant. We were in need of lumber resources, so the Taiwan Forestry Bureau was charged with the responsibility of increased felling and its workers were encouraged to fell more trees. If they surpassed predicted production levels, they were given monetary rewards.
Government policy walks hand in hand with the desires of the people and the needs of society. No matter how successful the Taiwan Forestry Bureau was during that former period, we can't use today's standards to make critical judgments. I feel that the Taiwan Forestry Bureau should merely review and discuss and be responsible for its negligence in the area of technology.
Reforestation and gardening are not the same. You have to understand nature. Felling and planting trees are one method but not the only method. Of course, we shouldn't completely belittle the way the Forestry Bureau acted on the grounds of technological problems.
It's impossible that the government or the Taiwan Forestry Bureau is unaware of the needs of the people. Aren't the national parks built for modern society? Most of the cost of building the parks was spent on research and educational work. Isn't the Taiwan Forestry Bureau felling fewer trees now than it did in the past? Isn't it developing forest recreation and planning ten natural protection zones at present?
The situation was different thirty years ago. If we merely concern ourselves with the present and neglect the future, then it won't be beneficial to the revolution of the forestry industry. We won't be helping the forestry industry.
Ho Te-hong, Chairman of the Forestry Bureau
The Taiwan Forestry Bureau is like the eldest brother or sister in a family who earned money to support their younger brothers or sisters. And after their living standard improved, the younger brothers and sisters, now having grown up, turn around and reject their elder brother or sister, viewing them as good-for nothings or saying that their former jobs were not prestigious enough. When our nation was poor the Taiwan Forestry Bureau struggled to keep our heads above water. Now people are pointed fingers at the bureau and saying that it chopped down too many trees.
Of course the Taiwan Forestry Bureau is not free from all criticism, but we should keep in mind that there are many things which we--including most people in our society--have come to understand only after scientific progress had been made.
The future of forestry is in multipurpose management. We've gone from felling and reforestation to the present forest recreation sites and the operation of natural protection zones. So there's even a greater need for various types of people to take part in the work. Because Without the right people, we wouldn't be able to accomplish anything.
Security Personnel
On April 14th this year we discovered that several hundred-year-old camphor trees had been chopped down illegally. When we found this out, security guards and the local police gathered in a small group to go up the mountain and carry out a search. What we found was a bunch of camphor trees which had already been cut into pieces and was ready to be trans ported down the mountain.
Although forestry laws clearly stipulate that the Taiwan Forestry Bureau is in charge of appointing forest police, they haven't done it for many years now. Our security guards have no judicial authority. Even if we see someone vandalizing the forest or planting mushrooms on the mountain with our own eyes, we have to go down the mountain and notify the police. Usually the places where such incidents occur are not very accessible, and going up the mountain is very difficult. If the police don't cooperate with us then our hands are tied.
Li Kang, A member of the Environmental Protection Agency
No matter what, I hold the view that forests at mid to high altitudes above sea level should not be cut down any further than they already have been. All of Taiwan's rivers stem from here. Water sources and dams both depend on the forests. The present forestry regulations merely protect forest within fifty meters of a watershed. They don't forbid felling in forests close by the upper courses of rivers and streams. Taiwan's land is considered new. Most mountains are comprised of unstable sedimentary rock and collapse sinks. This makes reforestation difficult and felling easy, which will cause problems later.
Anyone who has climbed Taiwan's mountains knows that the Taiwan Forestry Bureau has preserved some of the roads in the large forests yet there are frequent landslides. So there is a greater need for the prevention of even smaller roads after the trees have been chopped down. With land forms such as this the less the trees are chopped down the better.
I'm not stressing that all the felling done in the past was wrong, but if economic profits are our motivation for felling and we don't restrict felling, then the results of our actions will be very difficult to deal with. If we chop down all the Chinese cypress which has been with us for thousands of years, how can we avoid becoming a "prodigal son?" How can we apologize to the next generation?
[Picture Caption]
The topography on Taiwan's high mountains is not good, so forestation is difficult. Large-scale felling of trees should be avoided at all costs.
Environmentalists continually speak out on behalf of our forests. (photo by Lien Hui-ling)
Long ago Taiwan's high mountains were filled with huge Formosa red cypress. Seen to the right is Alishan's giant Formosa red cypress. The Formosa red cypress that stands to the left was chopped down during the Japanese Occupation. It looks like a super-giant in the presence of another giant. (photo by W.R. Price, 1912)
The planting of vegetables on high mountains harms the natural environment. Seen here are vegetables planted above the restricted level. (photo by Lien Hui-ling)
The Shuangch'i workstation on Mt. Tahsueh investigated a forest vandalism case in mid-April and retransported the camphor tree which had already been cut up into pieces back.
Forest roads serve a function but if too many roads are built then it will have an adverse effect on the forest. Liukuei. (photo courtesy of Chiao Kuo-mo)
The successful manmade Taiwan Fir Forest, besides serving the function of protecting the nation's soil, also provides the best forest recreation area.
The Taiwan Forestry Bureau has already begun to pay close attention to the planting of trees in the countryside. Seen here are workers pulling up the weeds in a nursery of Taiwan elms.
The planting of Piper longuum, a herb used in Chinese medicine, has a bad influence on the environment. Protection of the nation's land should not depend solely on the Taiwan Forestry Bureau. We all must work together.
Environmentalists continually speak out on behalf of our forests. （photo by Lien Hui-ling）
Long ago Taiwan's high mountains were filled with huge Formosa red cypress. Seen to the right is Alishan's giant Formosa red cypress. The Formosa red cypress that stands to the left was chopped down during the Japanese Occupation. It looks like a super-giant in the presence of another giant. （photo by W.R. Price, 1912）
The planting of vegetables on high mountains harms the natural environment. Seen here are vegetables planted above the restricted level. （photo by Lien Hui-ling）
The Shuangch'i workstation on Mt. Tahsueh investigated a forest vandalism case in mid-April and retransported the camphor tree which had already been cut up into pieces back.
The successful manmade Taiwan Fir Forest, besides serving the function of protecting the nation's soil, also provides the best forest recreation area.
The Taiwan Forestry Bureau has already begun to pay close attention to the planting of trees in the countryside. Seen here are workers pulling up the weeds in a nursery of Taiwan elms.
The planting of Piper longuum, a herb used in Chinese medicine, has a bad influence on the environment. Protection of the nation's land should not depend solely on the Taiwan Forestry Bureau. We all must work together.
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